Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay has ordered the closure of 717 state-run liquor shops situated within 500 metres of temples, schools, and bus stands across the state.
The shops, operated by the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), are to be shut within two weeks, reports NDTV.
This order marks the first major executive action by the superstar actor and leader of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), following the party’s dominant performance in last month’s Assembly election.
According to a government statement, TASMAC currently operates 4,765 liquor shops in the state. Of the 717 outlets identified for closure, 276 are located near places of worship, 186 are near educational institutions, and 255 are near bus stands.
The chief minister has framed the move as the first step towards fulfilling his promise of an “addiction-free” Tamil Nadu. While the closure order aligns with cross-party sentiment, it comes even though liquor sales constitute a significant portion of state revenue, exceeding Rs48,000 crore in 2025.
The closure follows a period of intense scrutiny for TASMAC. Prior to the April election, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids across the state in connection with alleged money-laundering offences involving the corporation and associated entities.
During the previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) administration, these raids led to a legal battle that reached the Supreme Court.
In May last year, a bench led by the then-Chief Justice BR Gavai questioned the federal agency’s jurisdiction, asking, “What happens to the federal structure? Are you not taking away the state government’s right to investigate?”.
In March, the ED claimed to have uncovered “multiple irregularities” and “unaccounted” cash worth Rs 1,000 crore within TASMAC operations. The agency alleged it found “incriminating” data regarding corporate postings, transport and bar licence tenders, and indent orders that favoured specific distilleries.
The ED cited evidence of fraudulent pricing, alleging surcharges of Rs10 to 30 per bottle were imposed with the “involvement” of TASMAC officials. Searches conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) reportedly found “manipulated data” indicating cheating during the awarding of tenders.
